Tapecat pretty much nails it. A great setlist and the tape sounds great. As stated, Phil's bass being so out front is a big plus. And he doesn't sing more than necessary which is also a plus. I, on the other hand, was relieved to have Soulshine out of the way early and not in Mule's set. Way better suited for this group. The Angel Band harmonies are very nice. I love how you can hear someone say "wow!" right at the end. I think Night of A Thousand Stars is underrated and it rocks despite a hiccup at the end. The guests on Lovelight make for a fun ending. Overall, I think Phil's presense in the mix and the pacing of the set really helps make this show. Highlights have been officially released on Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert Vol. 3. Worth picking up for sure. Time to listen to some power chords...

Right from the time the boys walked out you KNEW, this was gonna big BIG!!!!!!! Phil was dropping bombs during the tune up that had my change jingling. To open things up they slammed out an Other One Jam to die for. As I watched Phil I was blown away, here's this 60+ guy gritting his teeth and pounding out like he's in a punk band, No shit I swear it's true. After a few minutes of this madness they slowed a bit to start working toward the opener. Phil's bass was sooo up front tonight you just couldn't believe it and as I watched him I just Amazed at the way he was playing.

As they fired into Golden Road he was pounding out the bass riff in such a way that it should have been measured on a Richter Scale instead of a dB meter. AMAZING!!!(There was some static in the P.A. again which cleared up quickly. Please fix this before the best party of the year please) The Asheville Civic Center (A.C.C.) is now a full on Heavy-Duty party pit, rockin' out hard & I'm getting what I drove all this way for. The Jam that followed showed why I love Warren so much more when he's in the Phil line-up vs. Mule. With Phil there is a depth to his playing a sort of landscape in a way instead of power chord after power chord. Also during this jam everyone else shined and the interplay I was watching could only be achieved IMO by the best of friends not simply a band. The Jam petered out and after a short breather the A.C.C. was treated to a nice Soulshine, I knew this would be coming I simply hoped it might happen in the mule set instead. That aside I'd say it was better than others I've seen & certainly fit in on the theme for tonight this being a Benefit and all.

Loose Lucy, was my delight, what a joy it was to hear this one after such a long absence. Rob's Vocals were way over the top at first but then it settled down nice and tight. The tranny out of Lucy into the Jam that followed was as smooth as silk. The Jam itself was a hypnotic psychedelic romp, Phil leading the way with his Amp on steroids, Jimmy & Warren tossing complex little riffs back & forth and Rob & John dusting the edges with some fantastic rhythms for the boy's to play with. The Sweet Jam melted into a Smoothie of a Tennessee. No other good way to put it. It was cool and mellow with chunks of goodness mixed in comprised of micro solos from all on stage.

During this next break I called a GDTRFB, in a show with guest whether they play or not it seem that this is commonly played. Cha-Ching, the GDTRFB and my friends this puppy was smokin' for sure. I was a little disappointed that we didn't have guest for it but when they slid into Angel Band it made sense. This version of Angel Band was quite a bit bigger than the last one I saw. It was a full on tune, which was different from the near Acapella version I had seen before. The Harmony in this song is stellar, it shows the tightness of the band and I hope will seal their fate, which is to stay together in this current line up. I must state here that,.....Phil & Co. you all are the Angel Band, in so many ways from the charity work to lifting the spirits and minds of those folks you come in contact with! After a short break, BAM, Night of a Thousand Stars comes rolling around like steamroller. Warren belting out the vocals and Phil & Mt. St. Molo pounding out a mean rhythm that had my spine whipping around like a willow branch in a storm. It boggles my mind how far this song has come. Looking down at the timer on the deck I knew that this would be the last tune for sure a kind of encore of sorts.

As the break stretches out Phil gets on the Mic to say,...."As you can see we are experiencing the well known technical difficulties, However our crack equipment crew is on the problem and they are going to make it just exactly perfect". Then Rob starts up a breakout tuning (I think) for Phil & Co. with Roll out the Barrel, soon the whole band was in on it. Then Phil again speaks, ..."I always wondered who's turn it was going to be in the barrel when they roll it out"?

Then without further ado and with special guests Robert Randolph & Col. Bruce we get a nice Lovelight. Break out the Boogie shoes cause The Col. was made for this tune & I think it was a better version than in Richmond earlier this year. Warrens slide work on the Lovelight may have been the sweetest all night.